Created On: 28th, January 2019 at 05:09Last Updated: 28th, January 2019 at 05:09

Entry Level 75MPH FPV Furious 320 Racing Drone

UPDATED :

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS

If you have the need for speed then FPV racing drones are the way to go. The Furious 320 boasts a top speed of 75 mph utilising a unique tilt-rotor system. Is this for real?

WALKERA is not new to the drone scene, they have a number of products that range from novelty toys to fun camera drones and proper FPV racers.

I had seen a few tilt-rotor aircraft on the market and was curious what it was like to fly one.

The Furious 320 looked interesting, and with the promise of a speed rush I couldn't wait to take it for a spin.

First impressions & specs

The Furious 320 is no ordinary drone. Opening the box and picking it up, it certainly has presence. It's a solid build, it's quite bulky and blocky and looks like it means business.

It is so solid in fact that it weighs in at about 1.1kg with its large 4S battery. That is quite heavy when compared to your average 250 FPV racer.

Even a Storm Racing Drone (SRD280) as featured on last month's cover weighs only 712g with its 4S battery.

Contributing to that weight count is a GPS system, a decent 800TVL video camera and transmitter and of course the mechanical tilt-rotor system.

It has an excellent On Screen Display (OSD), showing all your regular info including battery life and the home position.

Tilt rotor

I opened up the top so you can see how the mechanical servo turns to roll the arms forward.

The theory is, if the props are tilted forward then the airframe won't nose down to the ground as much, therefore creating far less drag at high speeds.

The trade-off, of course is the additional weight of the mechanics and potential faults in moving parts.

Transmitter

The Devo 7 Transmitter came set up but without labels on the switches. Because of this and the startup sequence being a little different to most drones, it means reading the manual and following instructions. Something I usually do after the first flight.

Start your engines

A combination of flashing red lights on the rear panel, which you need the manual to interpret, means you are ready to take off. You need to arm the motors, flick the idle switch on and you are ready to go.

First flight I had with the Furious was in high wind conditions and immediately I could see the hefty weight a disadvantage.

It rocked around in the wind trying to stabilise, and appeared to try to yaw into the wind to help the situation. In these conditions it was like flying a big bus that really wanted to be on the ground.

My next flight I saved for a calm day and things were a little different. Without the wind it was a lot more controllable and stable in a hover.

Time to give it some!

This is where the name Furious becomes fitting. The props sound fierce and it takes off like a rocket.

There is definitely some forward pitch as it shoots off, until the effect of the forward facing arms and inertia let the aircraft level out a little.

The flight confroller does not rely on the rotating arms to push the aircraft forwards, or else the response would be far too slow; instead it propels itself like a regular quad varying speed of individual props, but the tilting forward rotors mean the drone flies more level than it would otherwise.

Speed wise it is pretty darn quick. I don't know if I was doing 75 mph, but it was quick. The best way I can describe it is by relating it to a dragster.

It roars and takes off in straight line like a dragster, but it corners like a big old truck. It has a lot of weight and that weight certainly affects its handling.

I wouldn't call it a responsive drone, as it takes a fair bit of stick to change direction of that moving mass.

Once you get used to it and stop comparing it to a smaller lighter drone, however, it is a lot of fun. Watching it roar off at high speed is a buzz.

Is it going to win any races for you? Unlikely if you're up against a specced out 250 flying FPV where quick cornering counts, but you will have a good shot on a track without too many turns.

Walkera Furious 320 Drone Quadcopter Specifications

Model

Furious 320w GPS

Manufacturer

Walkera

Type

Tilt-rotor quadcopter

Width/length

328mm

Radio control type

2.4Ghz transmitter included

Battery

2600mah 4S Lipo

Operating range

1-2 km

Flight time

7-10 mins

Top speed

75mph

Price

$550

Walkera Furious 320 Flight Report

PERFORMANCE/HANDLING

She is certainly fast, very high top speeds but handling is far from amazing due to the relatively heavy weight.

FLIGHT TIME

About 7-10 minutes depending on wind and if you're going for a speed record.

FINAL WORD

was an interesting drone to review, and I got a kick out of buzzing by at super high speeds, but the weight is a big drawback.

Turns and change of directions require a lot of stick so it just isn't responsive.

Hopefully a more agile, lighter take on the tilt-rotor system will be out soon.

100% Secure Payments

Redback Aviation Helicopter Store is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.com, SmallParts.com, or AmazonWireless.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.